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Blackness, the Racial/Spatial Order, Migrations, and Miss Ecuador-Rahier 1998 |
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According to the CIA profile (website 2000) on Ecuador, the ethnic groups represented are: mestizo (mixed Amerindian and Spanish) 65%, Amerindian 25%, Spanish and others 7%, black 3%. It would seem statistically logical that the racial ideal of national identity would be in fact, the majority mestizo population. Rahier uses the Miss Ecuador pageant of 1995 as an example of the racial/spatial order of Ecuadorian national identity prescribed strictly under colonial white and white-mestizo preferences. What is described in this article is a system of racial stratification that appears very similar to what we find in the US; a majority culture that commands certain aspects of success and superiority based strictly on a distinction of skin color. The ethnic minority is labeled and given negative stereotypes from which mistreatment is ideologically justified and perpetuated. Assumptions that the blacks of the Esmeraldas and the Chota-Mira Valley are violent, lazy, and backward are common views among the Mestizo-white elite. Rahier goes onto provide several convincing examples of this mentality. Police attitudes towards Ecuadorian blacks Comments of white-mestizo colonels regarding a recent shooting attributed the violence to racial tendencies of blacks-comments that were accepted by the majority population as fact. Also extrapolated was that the violence incurred was evidence of the invasion of urban centers by the unruly "black race". Socio-economic discrepancies Ecuadorian blacks are socially restricted to certain institutions and professions of Ecuadorian society. They are denied housing, employment, and jobs based on the simple variable of skin color. Media representation of Ecuadorian blacks Also echoed the racial tinge that US media carries, as that while the label of "mestizo race" or "white race" is never used when talking about violence, yet "raza moreno" or other black labels are frequently used, especially when reporting on violence done onto mestizo-whites by blacks. Personal encounters The author himself enjoyed elevated "un Negro fino" status as an Afro-European, and as an educated black man. This distinction was so defined that white-mestizos did not feel uncomfortable in bad-mouthing Ecuadorian blacks in front of him, and were surprised that he would even identify with the "negritos" to begin with. Miss Ecuador 1995-1996 The 2nd half of the article focuses on the election of a Miss Ecuador who was not only black, but also came from the most pre-dominantly black areas of Ecuador, Esmeralda, and Chota-Mira. The responses to the pageant ranged from confusion, allegations of conspiracy, and blatant racist attacks on Miss Ecuador herself. The most vivid quote from the press was "How can a black woman represent Ecuador?" while some were even so forward to suggest a connection of the pageant results to an international brown-nosing ploy to a Black south African president. Another reporter attributes Miss Ecuador's beauty is a product of "pure blood", an anti-mesentigation phrase that rings of colonial times. Disturbing is Rahier's suggestion that although Miss Ecuador was black, hailing from a predominantly black area of Ecuador, her election did not challenge the previously held national identities of racial/spatial order. The all white-mestizo jury at the pageant panel chose a black that had white-mestizo features, but more importantly one that took on a stance of representing Ecuador as a whole as opposed to addressing black issues. As for national identity, she had white-mestizo features, giving the impression of a "domesticated black", thus making it easier to accept. The increasing presence of MTV/VH1 pop culture depicting attractive black artists as being an icon of international beauty and racial diversity also seemed to play a role in the pageant result. Curiously, a current look at the Miss Ecuador pageant 2000 posts 12 contestants, one of who is of African Ancestry. Racism is alive and well in Ecuador? Critique: Reading this article brought several similarities and comparisons on racial identities that we find here in the US. Police attitudes towards blacks A few words and acronyms: Racial profiling of motorists along the NJ-NY border, DWB (Driving while black) LAPD, NYPD and Guilliani, and MPD. Socio-economic discrepancies Statistically, and more importantly assumptions of society and American culture puts African-Americans at the bottom. Media representation of blacks OJ Simpson Trial, examples in every major and minor US newspaper referring to crimes committed by non-whites (especially African-Americans) to whites. Personal encounters: I myself have observed a distinction in status and respect given between African-Americans and Africans. A prime example is of an acquaintance of mine who is immersed in interest with anything and everything about Africa yet is somewhat nonchalant about African-American issues. Miss USA 2000-2001: Given the arguments presented in the article, I can't help but find a connecting point between the Miss Ecuador Pageant and the recent Miss America pageant that was held about 2 weeks ago, in which the first Asian-American contestant was selected to represent America for 2000-2001. Similar is the assumption that as an Asian-American (more specifically, Filipino-Hawaiian-American) she is a spokesperson for a larger racial group. In fact, one of the first questions she answered after receiving her crown had to do with her being the first Asian-American Miss America. Questions: The two "myths" that Rahier introduces suggest a mixed message toward the identity of the indigenous people of Ecuador; on one hand it elevates them to a position of high status, yet it attributes this ascension to "becoming white". Is this really empowering? Is Rahier right in his conclusions, or was the election of a Black Miss Ecuador really a sign toward Ecuadorian racial harmony and multiculturalism? Do the concepts represented in RCT and SIT label minorities who enter beauty pageants as sellouts or justified competitors for both economic gain and positive self-concept? Miss America 2000 & Miss Ecuador 1995 came from a ethnic groups that represented less than 5% of their respective countries, what are the similarities and/or differences between the two examples of racial/national identity, or are the two not valid comparisons? |